The Police Command, Eastern Ports, has paraded suspects arrested in connection with vandalism of port facilities as well as recovered items in their possession.
According to the Commissioner of Police, Eastern Ports Command, Rivers State, CP Jimoh Moshood, at the press briefing, noted that though crimes and criminal activities are low in the Eastern Ports generally, the Command was keeping the media and the public informed of the significant achievements in crime prevention and control, prompt detection and investigation, and successes being recorded from investigations of crimes and criminality in the Eastern Ports.
The CP appreciated the immense and continuous logistics supports and significant assistance being provided by the Managing Director, Nigerian Director Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, and Management to the Command culminating in the so many successes and achievements for the Command, some of which are being showcased.
He added, “It is also imperative to appreciate the Port Manager, Rivers Port, Mrs Kenechi E. Okezie and her team for her tremendous support and conducive environment she provided to the Command that has made the job of policing Rivers Port much more easier.
“Let me assure the MD NPA and Team that the Command will continue to do its best to ensure that all forms of crime and criminality are reduced to the barest to enhance Ports operations and boast economic activities throughout the Eastern Ports.
“Furthermore, the Command wish to place on record the functional and efficient working relationship and synergy between the Ports Authority Police Command, Eastern Ports, and other security and safety agencies, the Port operators, other critical stakeholders and the host communities stakeholders in ensuring adequate security towards the attainment and successes of the mandates of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other policies of the Federal Government in ensuring ease of doing business in the country.
The Commissioner of Police Eastern Ports appreciate the commitment of all officers and men from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Police, the Officer-in- Charge EOD, Officer-in- Charge Marine Police, the Rivers Port Security Officer (PSO) and his men and all other police personnel in the Command whose efforts resulted in the achievements being presented before the press and the public today.
“Aside from the achievements of today, within the short period under review the Command has arrested and prosecuted several suspects for different offenses ranging from diversion of goods, wheat, sugar, flour, etc worth millions of Naira, some suspects have also been arrested and prosecuted for attempts in cutting Aprons under the berths and Stealing in Rivers Port, thirteen of the suspects are currently remanded to Correctional Services Custody and are under going prosecution.
The Command highlighted the following breakthroughs at the Press Briefing:
ARREST OF SUSPECTS IN THE ACT OF CRIMINAL DIVERSION OF TRUCK LOAD OF SUGAR, CONSPIRACY AND STEALING AND RECOVERY OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGTHEEN (118) BAGS OF SUGAR BELONGING TO BUA GROUPS
SUSPECTS:
NICHOLAS IBE ‘M’ 49YRS OLD OF 5 COMMUNITY RD IBETO
-SECURITY HEAD
IBRAHIM MUSA ‘M’ 26YRS OLD GINDIRI PLATEAU STATE
-TRUCK DRIVER
AUSTINE AMEIBE ‘’M’ 43 YRS OLD UPE BORIKIRI
– RECORD KEEPER
PRINCE TITUS, 24 YEARS OLD OF UPE STREET, BORIKIRI
ISAIAH OKONGWU, 22 YEARS OLD OF BANA STREET
On the 1st October, 2024 at about 0350hrs acting on actionable intelligence, Police operatives attached to the Rivers Ports Police Division swooped on a location within Rivers Port where a truck load of sugar belonging BUA Terminal was diverted and sugar being re-bagged into different bags. The four (4) suspects listed above were arrested in the act. A total of One Hundred and Eighteen (118) bags of sugar were recovered from their possession. All the suspects have confessed to the crime and made useful statement helping the Police in further investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects at large. The 118 bags of sugar have been released on bond to the BUA Group because they are perishable goods All suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigation.
FOILED ATTEMPT TO COMMIT VANDALISM OF PORT FACILITIES /RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
EXHIBITS:
Four Wooden Boats, One Filled Cylinder, One 2kg Cooking gas Cylinder, One set of fire hose
On 2nd October, 2024 at about 0154hrs eagle-eyed police operatives of the Command Marine Unit on patrol of the NPA Water front foiled an attempt by some vicious hoodlums to criminally vandalize Quay Aprons under NPA Berth 5. The suspects who had positioned themselves under the berth in five (5) wooden boats ready to commence the criminal activity were forced to abandon their wooden boat, equipment and escaped through the sea on sighting the patrol team. The unrelenting police operatives after unsuccessful effort to apprehend the suspects recovered the abandoned boats and the equipment as exhibits. Investigation is on going to arrest the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.
FOILED ATTEMPT TO COMMIT VANDALISM OF PORT FACILITIES /ARREST OF SUSPECT/RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
On 20/07/2024, at about 1145hrs, vigilant police operatives of the Eastern Ports Police Command Marine Police Unit on patrol of the NPA water-ways intercepted and arrested one Dikio Okomba ‘m’, member of a notorious vandal syndicate, near a Terminal in Port Harcourt. This arrest was a result of the joint effort of the Marine Police and police personnel on foot patrol of the Terminal. The suspect was found with the following exhibits: one welding cylinder, one cutting torch with the hose, one cooking gas cylinder, and others. Other members of his syndicate who escaped through the sea are still at large and are being trailed. The suspect, Dikio Okomba ‘m’, has already been charged to court and currently remanded to Correctional custody, his prosecution is currently on going in court.
FOILED ATTEMPT TO COMMIT VANDALISM OF PORT FACILITIES/RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS:
On 03/09/2024 at about 1130hrs, the Command Marine Police operatives on patrol along the NPA Dockyard, River-side, spotted a wooden boat moving suspiciously on portion of the sea with three persons on board. The suspects on sighting the approaching Marine Police Patrol boat abandoned their boat and its contents, and escaped by jumping into the river. Sequel to search conducted on the abandoned boat,the following exhibits were recovered:
One filled gas cylinder, One 5kg cooking gas, One jack, Two saw blades, Two matches
Two hammers, One iron bar, Two setting spanners, Two chisels, Cable wire, Two paddles.
These recovered exhibits are tools used for vandalizing and stealing iron under the Quay Apron at the Ports Terminal. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.
FOILED ATTEMPT TO COMMIT VANDALISM OF PORT FACILITIES/RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS:
On 21/08/2024 at approximately 1035hrs, operatives of the Command Marine Police unit, were on a routine patrol along the Port Harcourt Dockyard NPA water-front and its surroundings when they spotted a moving wooden boat under the NPA Jetty with four individuals on board. Upon sighting the Marine Police patrol team, the suspects abandoned their boat including its contents, and jumped into the water to avoid arrest. The wooden boat was recovered along with the following equipment exhibits:
One gas cylinder, One set of fire hose, One cramp and arch saw.
These exhibits are equipment used by the suspects for illegal activities along the quay apron of the terminals. Efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are on-going.
RECOVERY OF DRIFTED BOAT
On 29th September, 2024 at about 1405hrs operatives of the Command Marine Unit recovered a drifting wooden boat within berth five NPA Wharf Port Harcourt. Sequel to discreet investigation, it was discovered that the boat drifted from Abonnema Wharf Community. Effort is on to trace and investigate further why the boat was abandoned to enable the Police investigators to take further appropriate action on the matter.
I want to reiterate that the Command will intensified the hunt for the fleeing suspects until they and their gangs are arrested and brought to justice.
The Commissioner of Police Eastern Ports Police Command wishes to assure all port users that the Command is dedicated to providing a safe environment for the NPA Management and staff, Ports facilities, Port Users and other critical stakeholders to carryout their day to day business and other activities peacefully.
He also extends his heartfelt appreciation to all the officers and men in the Command for their unwavering dedication, commitment, and diligence to duty. He urges the personnel to keep up the good work.
While rounding up, on behalf of the PAP Eastern Ports Command, I gladly wish to express once again our profound appreciation to our very diligent and esteemed media correspondents for your support and valuable contribution to the success of the Command in keeping the general public informed about our successes, achievements and progress in the fight against crimes and criminality within our jurisdiction. We are indeed very grateful.
Thank you all for your attention and God bless.